MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND ARRESTED IN MULTINATIONAL ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS

This week the INS announced the arrests of more than 8,000 people in connection with two major anti-smuggling efforts.  Both operations were part of a four-year-old INS initiative called Global Reach, which seeks to enhance the agency’s presence abroad in anti-smuggling efforts. 

One of operations focused on the Western Hemisphere.  “Operation Crossroads International,” which is being called the largest ever anti-smuggling operation in the Western Hemisphere, involved 14 countries -  the US, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and Peru.  Seventy-five smugglers and fraudulent document vendors were arrested, and 7,898 migrants were detained in Central American countries. 

The other operation, “Operation Firm Grip,” targeted smugglers and Sri Lanka, Mumbai and New Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Amsterdam.  More than 400 migrants from 37 countries were arrested, along with 45 suspected smugglers. 

Officials with the INS and police forces in the other countries participating in the operation say their success is an indication of how much can be accomplished when the countries work together.  Operations like these, stretching over several countries and with unified participation are becoming an increasingly important way of combating immigrant smuggling, which has become a multi-billion dollar a year business.